Business travel is picking up

October 05, 2021

Since mid-August Brussels Airlines has recorded a modest increase in business travel from Belgium. With a weekly upturn of 30-40% in the number of bookings, the airline expects to accommodate 28,000 business travellers per month in Brussels. Whereas business travellers usually book flights two to three weeks in advance, the trend of last-minute bookings since the start of the pandemic has shifted booking times to just two to three days before their departure.

 

Growing demand for business travel

Some sectors are quicker to resume their business travel activities than others. The first sectors to take to the air again are the European and other political institutions, universities and the maritime sector, followed by the automotive industry, international construction companies and building material manufacturers. NGOs and insurance companies that carry out repatriations also account for an important share of Brussels Airlines’ corporate clients.

Although many multinationals still implement (partial) home working policies, the airline expects its chief corporate clients to relax their travel policies as of October.

 

Popular business destinations

Right now the most important destinations for business travellers are European destinations such as Italy (Milan), Slovenia (EU presidency), Denmark (Copenhagen), the Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin), Austria (Vienna), Switzerland (Geneva), Spain (Madrid & Barcelona) & Portugal (Lisbon).

Now that double-vaccinated EU passengers have smooth access to the US again thanks to the relaxation of travel restrictions imposed by the US government, Brussels Airlines anticipates a rise in demand for business travel to the States. Just 24 hours after the announcement of the lifting of the US travel ban, bookings jumped by 180%. During the winter season, the Belgian airline will offer four weekly flights to New York JFK.